Growing peaches brings so much joy to your garden, as well as your kitchen. Sweet, juicy and succulent, the peach is often referred to as the “queen of fruits”. While not the easiest fruit tree to grow, you can still enjoy a successful harvest with the right conditions and care.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to grow a peach tree from a peach seed, with tips on how to care for your peach tree in a temperate climate, as well as advice on ideal planting and harvest time for peaches.
Can you grow peaches in the UK?
Peaches thrive best in warmer climates, so can you grow peaches in the UK successfully? Yes, peaches can be successfully cultivated, providing the tree has the right shelter and a sunny position in your garden.
Warmer, southern parts of the UK may be more ideal for growing peaches, but there are also hardier varieties (like Peregrine and Rochester) that are more resistant to frost and cold if you want to increase your chances of a fruitful harvest.
How long does it take to grow a peach tree?
Patience is key when planting a peach tree from a seed. It can take 5-7 years for the tree to produce any fruit, growing at a moderate rate of 1-2 feet every year. If you’re looking for a tree that produces fruit earlier, you can purchase a sapling from a garden centre – this will likely give you tasty peaches to eat in 2-4 years.
Ideal growing conditions for peach trees
If you want to learn how to grow a peach tree from a peach seed, it’s important to get the conditions just right. Here’s everything you need to know:
The best place to plant a peach tree
The best spot for peaches is somewhere that is sunny and sheltered. If you are planting outside, next to a south- or south-west-facing fence or wall would be ideal. Plant at least 30cm from the wall. If your garden is particularly exposed to the elements, we recommend growing
peaches in a polytunnel.
Which type of soil to use
Peach trees need to be planted in well-drained soil to avoid fungal or bacterial infections caused by root rot. The soil also needs to be deep, as trees will struggle to thrive in shallow soil. Make sure the soil is fully fertile and able to retain sufficient moisture. A good soil that ticks all these boxes is loamy soil, made up of sand, silt, clay particles and organic matter.
Protecting against frost
While the tree is typically hardy once established, it can be susceptible to overnight frost when blossoming in early spring. Growing peaches in a polytunnel can create a warmer microclimate inside to prevent this. You can also use an old bedsheet, fleece or sheep’s wool as a protective layer.
When to plant a peach pit (and harvest time for peaches)
Understanding germination is the very first step if you want to know how to plant a peach tree from seed. When to plant a peach pit depends on whether you want to start indoors or plant directly outdoors. Follow this table for more information:
| Planting location |
Best time to plant |
Benefits |
Direct planting (outdoors or in a polytunnel)
|
Early winter |
Peach seeds require stratification (a period of cold) to germinate. Direct planting in winter is ideal for this.
|
Indoor starting (in a pot)
|
Late winter / early spring |
A fantastic option if you want to start the germination process earlier by simulating cold conditions indoors in a fridge.
|
Harvest time: Peaches can typically be harvested between late July and September, depending on where your tree is positioned in the garden, and the variety of peach you have. Look out for fruits to develop a golden yellow colour (sometimes with pinkish hues) to know when to pick.
How to grow a peach tree from a peach seed
Here’s our quick guide on how to plant a peach tree from seed for outdoor planting or indoor stratification. You can grow a peach tree in four easy steps:
- Prepare the seed
To remove the seed kernel, you will need to crack open the peach pit. You can test seeds by placing them in water to see if they float. Any seeds that do not float may not be suitable for planting. If you’re not planting the seed straight away, allow the seed to dry.
- Stratify the seed
Either plant directly outside or simulate winter conditions indoors. To begin the indoor stratification process, put the seed in a slightly moist paper towel and place it inside a plastic bag or jar. Refrigerate between 1.1°C and 5.6°C for 6-8 weeks, and frequently check the seed for any mould. For outdoor planting, make sure you choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil.
- Germinate and plant
For indoor germination, plant the seed in a pot with well-drained potting mix once you see little rootlets sprouting. Make sure the seed is twice as deep as its length (or around 8-10cm) and water regularly. Choose a sunny area and make sure you keep the soil moist, but with enough drainage.
Transplant the tree
When your indoor seedling is established, you can transplant it outside. For direct planting, you can transplant seedlings to their permanent location after the last frost.
How to care for a peach tree with a polytunnel
In climates where growing peaches can be challenging, a polytunnel can be the best place to plant a peach tree as it delivers protection against frost, heavy winds, pests and diseases. It could even bring forward the harvest time for peaches, giving you delicious fruit earlier.
However, growing peaches in a polytunnel demands specific conditions and measures to ensure a healthy crop. Regular watering is key during the growing season, as the covering means no access to rainfall. You will also need to prune in the summer months after fruiting to encourage new growth and remove dead wood.
Inside a polytunnel, it’s also important to have ventilation to manage humidity levels – this is vital if you want to prevent fungal diseases from developing.
Start growing peaches in a polytunnel today
Not sure how to build your polytunnel? At Premier Polytunnels, we offer
quality polytunnel kits which include everything you need to get started.
We also stock cloches and fruit cages to support the growth of seedlings and saplings. For advice on the best products for your garden, get in touch with our friendly team on 01282 811250 or email
info@premierpolytunnels.co.uk.